Macon, GA. Just a week ago a RacersReunion was held at Middle Georgia Raceway located in that area but I'm thinking that is not the same track which, on this date in 1951, was located in Macon, GA and known as Central City Speedway. I am hoping one of our fine members from that area will clear that question up for me.
Twenty-two cars showed up to race 100 miles on the half-mile dirt surface just 5 days after the second annual Southern 500 won by Herb Thomas, and one day after a difficult 100 miler on the half mile dirt track known as Columbia Speedway. The race at Columbia was, in fact, a hotly disputed event in which Fireball Roberts was flagged the winner in a Ed Saverence Ford but after protest by Ted Chester, owner of Flock's Oldsmobile, NASCAR rechecked the score cards and declared Tim Flock the winner. Saverence was livid! He flatly refused to accept the $700.00 second place money and left the track steaming. That may have been the reason Fireball Roberts was not entered in the race in Macon. Nevertheless, the field included many of the touring regulars of the Grand National circuit.
Bob Flock won the pole at a speed of 54.266 mph in the Gray Ghost Oldsmobile. Tim Flock would start second in the Black Phantom Oldsmobile. Fonty Flock put the Red Devil (not the vacuum) Oldsmobile in third place. Billy Cardin in plain old 51 Cadillac would start fourth. Jesse James Taylor would start fifth in a 51 Hudson in an effort to "steal" a victory in a "shoot out". Wow, what fun the track announcer must have had with those Flock cars, not to mention the fun with Jesse James. I would have loved to have been on the microphone from that booth!!!!
Bob Flock led the first 11 laps before good ole Jesse James Taylor rode his Hudson into the lead where he would stay until lap 106.Jesse James had a radiator split and the rookie driver was relegated to the pits and out of the race. Herb Thomas, driving his own Plymouth and starting 6th, took over on lap 107 and the Southern 500 winner from five days earlier would lead the rest of the way to win by two laps. This win was the fourth in the career of Legendary Herb Thomas.
Top Five finishers:
1. Herb Thomas, Thomas Plymouth, winning $1,000.00
2. Gober Sosebee, Cherokee Garage Oldsmobile, winning $700.00
3. Jim Paschal, Julian Buesink Ford, winning $450.00
4. Fonty Flock, Red Devil Oldsmobile, winning $350.00
5. Donald Thomas, Thomas Plymouth, winning $200.00
Sixth through tenth were Cotton Owens, Frank Gise, Billy Cardin, Bill Miller and Augie Walackas. Joe Eubanks is credited with 13th, Roscoe Thompson 14th, Jesse James Taylor 15th, Bob Flock 18th, Lee Petty 21st and Tim Flock 22nd and last. Tim Flock completed only 25 laps in that race. Wonder if Fireball knew anything about "karma" back then as I'm sure that may have entered the minds of some.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
